If ever there was an example of cricket's growing popularity, it came at Edgbaston yesterday, writes George Dobell.

Warwickshire came close to selling their allocation of 3,000 tickets - a noticeable increase in previous allocations - for the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy final against Hampshire within hours of them going on sale.

The unexpected high demand for the Lord's showpiece on September 3 caused problems, however. Some supporters were obliged to wait for over four hours, with patience wearing thin.

The ticketing system appears arcane. The requirement to present one's membership card at the club appears bizarre in an age of high-speed internet access and telephone banking. Many members were left deeply unimpressed.

"We underestimated the demand," said the club's head of marketing Stuart Robertson. "We apologise for that and have learnt lessons.

"In the past we have allocated more staff and room for the process, but then found there was little requirement. This time we did not do that, when in retrospect we should have.

"We wanted to allow those supporters who regularly come to the game the chance to purchase their tickets first. The tickets allocated to Warwickshire will be within areas designated for our supporters but they can, if they prefer, book directly from the MCC."